Step device for a motorcycle

ABSTRACT

A step device that can reduce sound and vibrations generated when it comes in touch with the ground. The step device includes a platform for placing the driver&#39;s foot thereon, and a bank sensor that projects from the platform and comes into contact with the ground when vehicle body is inclined. The platform and the bank sensor are integrally formed so that these members can be formed by casting. This configuration provides for a reduction of the sound and the vibrations which are generated when the step device comes in touch with ground.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 toJapanese Patent Application No. 2001-282456, filed Sep. 17, 2001, theentire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to a step device for a motorcyclefor placing the driver's foot thereon.

[0004] 2. Description of Background Art

[0005] The step device for a motorcycle comprises a platform for placingthe driver's foot, and a bank sensor for touching the ground when thevehicle body is inclined, and the bank sensor used in the related artemploys a bar-shaped bolt members having a semi-spherical head portionto be screwed into the platform.

[0006] However, in the case where the aforementioned bar-shaped boltmember having a semi-spherical head portion is used as a bank sensor,when the vehicle body is inclined during travel and it comes in touchwith the ground, the bolt member comes into point contact with theground, which causes relatively large sound and vibrations.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to providea step device that can reduce sound and vibrations generated when itcomes in touch with the ground.

[0008] In order to achieve the object, a first aspect of the presentinvention includes a platform for placing the driver's foot (forexample, the platform 580 in the embodiment), and a bank sensor thatprojects from the platform and comes in touch with the ground when thevehicle body is inclined (for example, a bank sensor 581 in theembodiment). The platform and the bank sensor are integrally formed.

[0009] In this manner, since the platform for placing the driver's footand the bank sensor that comes in touch with the ground when the vehiclebody is inclined are formed integrally, these members can be formed ofcast metal or the like. As such, the configuration of the presentinvention can reduce sound and vibrations generated when it comes intouch with ground.

[0010] According to a second aspect of the present invention, the banksensor is elongated in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.

[0011] In this manner, since the bank sensor is elongated in thelongitudinal direction of the vehicle body, it does not generate a largeresistance to travel it touches the ground, and it can come in touchwith the ground linearly or planarly.

[0012] According to a third aspect of the present invention, banksensors are disposed both at the front side and the rear side of theplatform in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.

[0013] Since the bank sensors are disposed both at the front side andthe rear side of the platform in the longitudinal direction of thevehicle body, when one of the bank sensors on the side that comes intouch with the ground is worn away by touching the ground, the otherbank sensor that is not worn can be disposed on the side that comes intouch with the ground by exchanging the bank sensors between the leftside and the right side.

[0014] Further scope of applicability of the present invention willbecome apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter.However, it should be understood that the detailed description andspecific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0015] The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawingswhich are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitativeof the present invention, and wherein:

[0016]FIG. 1 is a side view showing a motorcycle to which the presentinvention is applied;

[0017]FIG. 2 is a side view showing a body frame of the motorcycle towhich the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0018]FIG. 3 is a back view showing the body frame of the motorcycle towhich embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0019]FIG. 4 is a plan showing a winder of the motorcycle to which theembodiment of the invention is applied;

[0020]FIG. 5 is a side view showing the winker of the motorcycle towhich the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0021]FIG. 6 is a view viewed along a line X-X in FIG. 4 showing thewinker of the motorcycle to which the embodiment of the invention isapplied;

[0022]FIG. 7 is a view viewed along a line Y-Y in FIG. 4 showing thewinker of the motorcycle to which the embodiment of the invention isapplied;

[0023]FIG. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view showing a license light ofthe motorcycle to which the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0024]FIG. 9 is a view viewed along an arrow a in FIG. 8 showing themotorcycle to which the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0025]FIG. 10 is a view viewed along an arrow b in FIG. 8 showing themotorcycle to which the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0026]FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing license plate mountingstructure of the winker of the motorcycle to which the embodiment of theinvention is applied;

[0027]FIG. 12 is an enlarged side view showing a state in which a sidecover in the center of the motorcycle to which the embodiment of theinvention is applied is removed;

[0028]FIG. 13 is an enlarged side view showing a state in which the sidecover in the center of the motorcycle to which the embodiment of theinvention is applied is removed;

[0029]FIG. 14 is an enlarged plan showing a state in which a seat in thecenter of the motorcycle to which the embodiment of the invention isapplied is removed;

[0030]FIG. 15 is a front view showing a center cover of the motorcycleto which the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0031]FIG. 16 is a plan showing the center cover of the motorcycle towhich the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0032]FIG. 17 is a side view showing the center cover of the motorcycleto which the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0033]FIG. 18 is a side view showing a state in which a fuel pump isattached to the center cover of the motorcycle to which the embodimentof the invention is applied;

[0034]FIG. 19 is a front view showing an engine hanger of the motorcycleto which the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0035] FIGS. 20(a) and (b) are plan and side views showing a stay thatsupports an ignition switch of the motorcycle to which the embodiment ofthe invention is applied;

[0036]FIG. 21 is a front view showing a battery case of the motorcycleto which the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0037]FIG. 22 is a plan showing the battery case of the motorcycle towhich the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0038]FIG. 23 is a side view showing the battery case of the motorcycleto which the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0039] FIGS. 24(a), (b), and (c) are perspective views for explainingthe action of the battery case of the motorcycle to which the embodimentof the invention is applied;

[0040]FIG. 25 is a side view showing a rear fender of the motorcycle towhich the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0041]FIG. 26 is a side view showing muffler arrangement structure ofthe motorcycle to which the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0042]FIG. 27 is a back view showing the muffler arrangement structureof the motorcycle to which the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0043]FIG. 28 is a side view showing a braking device of the motorcycleto which the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0044]FIG. 29 is a view viewed along an arrow X in FIG. 28 showing thebraking device of the motorcycle to which the embodiment of theinvention is applied;

[0045]FIG. 30 is a front view showing a brake pedal of the motorcycle towhich the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0046]FIG. 31 is a sectional view viewed along a line A-A in FIG. 30showing the brake pedal of the motorcycle to which the embodiment of theinvention is applied;

[0047]FIG. 32 is a plan showing the brake pedal of the motorcycle towhich the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0048]FIG. 33 is a bottom view showing a step plate of the motorcycle towhich the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0049]FIG. 34 is a sectional view viewed along a line B-B in FIG. 33showing the step plate of the motorcycle to which the embodiment of theinvention is applied;

[0050]FIG. 35 is a side view showing seat attachment structure of themotorcycle to which the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0051]FIG. 36 is a bottom view showing the seat attachment structure ofthe motorcycle to which the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0052]FIG. 37 is a side sectional view showing a meter cover of themotorcycle to which the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0053]FIG. 38 is a plan showing the meter cover of the motorcycle towhich the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0054]FIG. 39 is a front view showing radiator support structure of themotorcycle to which the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0055]FIG. 40 is a side view showing the radiator support structure ofthe motorcycle to which the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0056]FIG. 41 is shows a gusset of the motorcycle to which theembodiment of the invention is applied;

[0057]FIG. 42 is a side view showing an engine hanger of the motorcycleto which the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0058]FIG. 43 is a side sectional view showing a luminous elements ofthe motorcycle to which the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0059]FIG. 44 is a front view showing the luminous element of themotorcycle to which the embodiment of the invention applied;

[0060]FIG. 45 is a side view showing the luminous element of themotorcycle to which the embodiment of the invention is applied;

[0061]FIG. 46 is a side view showing another example of the luminouselement of the motorcycle to which the embodiment of the invention isapplied.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0062] Referring now to the drawings, an embodiment of the presentinvention will be described below. In the description, the termsregarding the direction such as front, rear, left, and right representdirections with respect to the vehicle body.

[0063]FIG. 1 is a side view of a general construction of a motorcycleembodying the present invention.

[0064] A motorcycle 1 is so-called American type motorcycle, including avehicle body frame 2, a pair of left and right front forks 3 rotatablysupported at the front end of the vehicle body frame 2, a headlight 4provided on the upper part of the front forks 3, a pair of left andright front winkers 5 provided on the front forks 3 at the positionlower than the headlight 4, and a steering handle 6 mounted at the upperend of the front forks 3 and disposed on the upper front of the vehiclebody.

[0065] The motorcycle 1 includes a front wheel 7 rotatably supported bythe front forks 3, a front fender 8 supported by the front forks 3 forcovering the upper side of the front wheel 7, an engine 9 supported bythe vehicle body frame 2, a radiator 10 disposed forwardly of the engine9, rear swing arm units 11 mounted on the rear portion of the vehiclebody so as to be pivotable about the lateral axis by the vehicle bodyframe 2, a rear wheel 12 rotatably suspended at the rear ends of therear swing arm units 11 and being rotated by a driving force of theengine 9, and a rear fender 13 supported by the vehicle body frame 2 forcovering the upper side of the rear wheel 12.

[0066] The motorcycle 1 also includes a teardrop shaped fuel tank 14disposed on the upper portion or the vehicle body frame 2, a main seat15 disposed rearwardly of the fuel tank 14 for the driver to sit on, apillion seat 16 provided rearwardly of the main seat 15 on the rearfender 13 for a fellow passenger to sit on, a pair of left and rightrear winkers 17 provided on the rear portion of the rear fender 13, abrake lamp 18 provided at the center of the rear portion of the rearfender 13, and a license plate mounting portion 19 provided at the rearend of the rear fender 13.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the vehicle frame 2 includes ahead pipe 21 at the front end, a main pipe 22 extending rearwardly fromthe upper portion of the head pipe 21, an upper pipe joint 23 to bewelded at the rear portion of the main pipe 22, a pair of left and rightcenter upper pipes 24 bifurcated from the upper pipe joint 23 to theleft and right and extending rearwardly therefrom, a pair of left andright rear brackets 25 for being connected to the respective centerupper pipes 24, a rear cross pipe 26 for connecting the left and rightrear brackets 25 with each other, center pipes 27 extending downwardfrom the respective center upper pipes 24, rear pipes 28 extendingdownward from the respective rear brackets 25, and a pair of left andright pivot plates 29 to be connected to the lower side of the centerpipes 27 and the rear pipes 28. Also included are a cross pipe 30 forconnecting the left and right pivot plates 29 at the upper portionsthereof with each other, a cross pipe 31 for connecting the left andright pivot plates 29 at the lower portions thereof with each other agusset 32 to be welded at the lower portion of the head pipe 21, a pairor left and right down pipes 33 bifurcated to the left and right fromthe gusset 32 and extending somewhat obliquely downward toward the rearand then extending rearward in the substantially horizontal directionfrom the lower portion thereof to be connected to the pivot plates 29, asub pipe 34 for connecting the gusset 32 and the main pipe 22 at thelower side of the main pipe 22, and a front cross pipe 35 for connectingthe left and right down pipes 33 with each other.

[0068] The engine 9 is a V-type, two-cylinder, four-cycle engine havinga pair of front and rear cylinder blocks 38 provided with a cylinderhead portion 37 and a cylinder portion 36, and a crankcase 39 provideddownwardly of these cylinder blocks 38 so as to be continued therefrom,and a transmission 40 is connected to the rear side of the crankcase 39of the engine 9. The engine 9 and the transmission 40 are supported onthe vehicle body frame 2 in such a manner that the front portion of thecrankcase 39 is connected to the down pipes 33 via a bracket 42, themidsection of the crankcase 39 is connected to the front cross pipe 35via a bracket 43, the lower portion on the rear side of the transmission40 is connected to the cross pipe 31 via a bracket 44, and the upperportion on the rear side of the transmission 40 is connected to thecross pipe 30 via a bracket 45.

[0069] The rear swing arm units 11 comprise a pair of left and rightfork portions 46 extending rearward from the base portions of the frontends thereof, and are capable of a pivotal motion in the verticaldirection about pivots 47 by being supported at the base portion by thepivots 47 provided on the left and right pivot plates 29. A pair of leftand right rear cushion units 48 are interposed between the respectiveextremities of the rear swing arm units 11 and the respective rearbrackets 25, so that vibration applied on the rear wheel 12 from theroad surface is alleviated and absorbed.

[0070] The front winker (winker device) 5 comprises, as shown in FIG. 4and FIG. 5, a winker holder 102 attached on the front fork 3 of themotorcycle 1, a winker 103 supported by the outside portion of thewinker holder 102 via a winker supporting base portion 103 a, and awinker code 104 extended from the winker 103 and drawn out through theinterior of the winker holder 102.

[0071] The winker holder 102 includes a pair of holder member 105, 106formed by dividing a cylindrical body formed with a shaft hole 102 ahaving an inner diameter substantially the same as the diameter of theouter periphery of the front fork 3 and with a column shaped projection102 b on one side (outside) into substantially halves along a plane laidin the direction of the axis of the cylindrical body. The winker holder102 is detachably mounted on the front fork 3 by disposing therespective holder members 105, 106 so as to interpose the front fork 3therebetween from the front and back, and screwing and tightening bolts107, 107 into the screw holes 105 a, 105 a formed on both sides of oneof the (the front) holder member 105 through the bolt holes 106 a, 106 aformed on both sides of the holder member 106 on the other (the rear)holder member 106.

[0072] The projection 105 b of the outer side portion of the one holdermember 105 is substantially column shaped portion having a notched plane105 c on the side of the other holder member 106, so that the winker 103is supported by the holder member 105 by connecting the projection 105 bdetachably to the winker supporting base portion 103 a of the winker 103by means of a certain tightening means such as a screw or the like.

[0073] As showing in FIG. 6, the one holder member 105 is formed with agroove 105 d of crank shape in side view opening toward the outer end(toward the side of the winker supporting base portion 103 a) and towardthe other holder member 106 so as to extend along the direction of theaxis of the projection 105 b (the direction orthogonal to the directionS of the axis of the winker holder 102) to the proximal section of thescrew hole 105 a and then circumvent the screw hole 105 downward andcontinue to the inner peripheral portion being in touch with the outerperipheral surface of the front fork 3 of the holder member 105.

[0074] The portion 105 f of the groove 105 d positioned downwardly ofthe screw hole 105 a is formed in a substantially semi-circular shape inlateral cross section. The groove portion 105 e along the direction ofthe axis of the projection 105 b of the groove 105 d may be formed as ahole closed on the side of the other holder member 106 but not as agroove. The groove width of the groove 105 d or the diameter of the holeformed instead of the groove 105 d is formed so as to be slightly largerthan the diameter of the winker code 104.

[0075] As shown in FIG. 7, the other holder member 106 is formed at theouter end (the side of the winker supporting base portion 103 a) with atprojection 106 d forming a cylindrical projection 102 b together withthe projection 105 b by abutting the joint surface 106 b thereof againstthe notched plane 105 c of the projection 105 b or the one holder member105 and abutting the outer end portion 106 c thereof against the winkersupporting base portion 103 a. The inner side of the other holder member106 is formed with a groove 106 e being connected into the grooveportion 105 f on the one holder member 105 at one end, extending in thedirection orthogonal to the direction S of the shaft hole 102 a of thewinker holder 102, and then opening downward at the other end (the otherside of the projection 106 d).

[0076] The groove 106 e includes an annular groove 106 g havingdimensions slightly larger than the diameter of the winker code 104 indepth and width and being formed circumferentially along the arcuateinner peripheral surface 106 f that is to be brought into touch with thefront fork 3, a groove portion 106 i being connected into one end (theside where the projection 106 b resides) of the annular groove 106 g,formed along the contact surface 106 h of the other holder member 106that is to be brought into touch with the one holder member 105, and agroove portion 106 i having a semi-circular lateral cross section of adiameter slightly larger than the diameter of the winker code 104. Thegroove 106 e also includes a groove portion 106 m formed at the positionin the vicinity of the opposed surface 106 j of the other holder member106 that faces toward the one holder member 105 with a gap 105 ginterposed therebetween, connected to the other end (the end oppositefrom the projection 106 b) of the annular groove 106 g at the upper end(lower end in FIG. 7) thereof, opening on the lower end surface (upperend surface in FIG. 7) 106 k of the other holder member 106 at the lowerend (upper end in FIG. 7) thereof, and having dimensions slightly largerthan the diameter of the winker code 104 in depth and width.

[0077] The groove 105 d of the one holder member 105 and the groove 106e of the other holder member 106 form a code insertion hole 108 in thewinker holder 102 for receiving the winker code 104 therethrough. Thewinker code 104 drawn out from the winker supporting base portion 103 aof the winker 103 passes through the groove portion 105 e of theprojection 105 b, circumvents the bolt hole 105 a, and passes from thegroove portions 105 f, 106 i though the annular groove 106 g, then alongthe outer periphery of the front fork 3 by a half a round, and thenthrough the groove portion 106 m, and is pulled out from the lower endof the other holder member 106 to be wired toward the required location.

[0078] Though it is not shown, a seal is provided at the mountingsection between the projection 102 b (projection 105 b, 106 b) of thewinker holder 102 and the winker supporting base portion 103 a of thewinker 103, so that rainwater is prevented from entering into theinterior of the winker 103 through the code insertion hole 108.

[0079] Though the front winker is shown as being mounted on the pipe onthe right side (the right side when viewed toward the travelingdirection of the motorcycle 1) of the front fork 3, the front winker(winker device) to be mounted on the left side of the front fork 3 hasthe same construction as the right front winker 5 except for beingsymmetrical.

[0080] The license plate mounting unit 19 is provided with a licenselight 110 and the license plate (number plate) 111 that will beilluminated thereby.

[0081] In other words, as shown in FIG. 8, a mounting plate 114 havingthree female screw members 113 oil the upper side thereof at thepositions on the back side thereof corresponding to the substantiallydiamond-shaped openings 112 is fixed on the rear end portion of the rearfender 13. A substantially diamond ring shaped cushion rubber 115 in theshape of a ring configured like a diamond is fixed on the front side soas to surround the peripheral edge of the opening 112, and then theperipheral edge of a substantially rounded diamond-shaped light cover116 (See FIG. 9) of the license light 110 is fitted into the annulargroove 115 a formed along the periphery of the cushion rubber 115 so asto cover the opening 112.

[0082] The light cover 116 is provided with three insertion holes 116 athrough which the female screw members 113 are inserted on the upperportion thereof, and with a light storage section 116 c having anopening 116 b in the shape of a substantially circular arc or trianglewith a rounded projection on the lower portion thereof so as to projectrearwardly of the vehicle body when viewed from above, and a light body117 of the license light 110 is attached in the light storage section116 c. A mounting plate 118 is fixed to the female screw member 113 ofthe mounting plate 114 inserted into the insertion hole 116 a of thelight cover 116 with a bolt 118 a, so that the number plate 111 issecured to the mounting plate 118 via a supporting plate 119.

[0083] The lamp body 117 comprises a base 120, a lamp 123 alighted atits screwed portion with the socket 121 and secured to the base 120though a bayonet mounting hole 122 formed on the base 120, and a lens124 fixed to the base 120 so as to surround the lamp 123. The lens 124comprises a horizontal upper surface 125 in the shape of a substantiallycircular arc or of a triangle having a rounded projection beingprojected toward the rear of the vehicle body when viewed from above, avertical side surface 126 connected around the upper surface 125 withthe face down, and a cylindrical surface 127 in the shape of a cylinderconnected along the base portions of the upper surface 125 and the sidesurface 126, so that the cross section taken along the centerline of thevehicle body is a substantially pentagonal shape with one side(obliquely lower side) opened, and a part of the free end of thecylindrical surface 127 is joined to the surface of the base 120 bywelding or the like, whereby the lens 124 is joined integrally to thebase 120.

[0084] The upper surface 125 of the lens 124 has, as shown in FIG. 10, aprofile in the shape of a substantially circular arc or triangle havinga rounded projection being projected toward the rear of the vehicle bodywhen viewed from above, and one of the lens surfaces 125 a (the innerside being adjacent to the lamp 123) is formed with prism 128 on theproximal side, and the other lens surface 125 b (the outside being awayfrom the lamp 123) is a smooth surface. The prism 128 includes aplurality of prism elements 128 a being oriented in parallel with thecenterline of the vehicle body and disposed in the direction at a rightangle with respect to the centerline. Each prism element 128 a is aquadrangular pyramid elongated in the fore-and-aft direction and havinga top projecting toward the lamp 123, and is formed integrally with thelens surface 125 a of the upper surface 125 as so-called fish-eye cutsurface.

[0085] The side surface 126 is formed into a curved surface almost alongthe profile of the upper surface 125, and is formed with a reflectingsurface 126 a applied with surface roughening for reflecting light ofthe lamp 123 on the upper side of the inner surface being adjacent tothe lamp 123 over the range in the vicinity of the prism 128 on thecurved surface.

[0086] The lamp body 117 thus constructed is mounted in the lightstorage section 116 c by being inserted into the light storage section116 c of the light cover 116 with the projection of the lens 124 facedtoward the rear of the vehicle body and the upper surface 125 facedupward so that the upper surface 125 is exposed from the opening 116 band the side surface 126 is abutted against the back side surface of therear wall surface 116 d formed in the same curved surface as the sidesurface 126 of the lens 124, and securing its side surface 126 to theback surface of the rear wall surface 116 d with a bolt, not shown. Aback surface cover 129 covers the socket side 122 of the lamp 123, whichis inserted into and engaged with the engaging hole formed on themounting plate 114 on the upper end side thereof and fixed to themounting plate 114 with a bolt 130 on the lower end side thereof.

[0087] Referring now to FIG. 11, the mounting plate 118 and thesupporting plate 119 for mounting the license plate 111 on the licenseplate mounting unit 19 are described.

[0088] The mounting plate 118 is formed of a substantially rectangularplate material having overhanging portions 118 b, 118 b on the lowerside thereof with lateral lengths slightly longer than vertical lengthsand projecting on the left and the right sides. Further, the mountingplate 118 is formed with a substantially laterally elongated rectangularnotch 130 at the center on the lower end thereof, a recess 131 in theshape of a triangular pyramid upwardly of the notch 130, and a bolt hole132 a formed in the flat recess 132 which is formed continuously upwardfrom the recess 131.

[0089] A triangular mounting plate portion 131 a corresponding to thebottom surface of the recess 131 in the shape of triangular pyramid isinclined so as to be higher on the front side of the vehicle body and isformed with three bolt holes 131 b near the positions corresponding tothe three apexes of the triangle. In this manner, the mounting plate 118is attached on the license plate mounting unit 19 on the upper front ofthe light body 117 of the license light 110 with the plate surfaceoriented vertically by screwing and tightening the bolt 118 a insertedthrough the bolt hole 131 b into the female screw member 113 fixed onthe mounting plate 114 of the license plate mounting unit 119 (See FIG.8).

[0090] In addition, the mounting plate 118 is formed with bolt holes133, 133 for mounting the license plate at the symmetrical positionsnear the upper end of the notch 130 on both sides, laterally elongatedholes 134, 134 positioned slightly upwardly thereof, holes positionedupwardly of the elongated holes 134, 134 including square holes 135, 135at the lower sides thereof and vertically elongated slide holes 136, 136connected to the square holes 135, 135 at the upper ends thereof andextended upward to the positions near the upper end of the mountingplate 118, and reflector mounting holes 137, 137 are formed at thepositions lower than the bolt holes 133 on the both sides of the notch130.

[0091] The supporting plate 119 is formed of a laterally elongatedrectangular plate material having the same width as the width of theupper half portion of the mounting plate 118. The supporting plate 119also has a projecting seat portion 138 for abutment against the rearsurface of the recess 132 of the mounting plate 118 at the center of thefront surface 119 a thereof, a laterally elongated bolt hole 139 throughthe seat portion 138, and a seat surface 140 formed on the back surface119 b as a recess surrounding the bolt hole 139.

[0092] The supporting plate 119 is formed with a hooking strips 141, 141on the back surface 119 b on both sides at the symmetrical positions atthe upper end so as to project from the back side and be bent downward,and engaging portions 142, 142 having T-shaped lateral cross section onboth sides at the symmetrical positions near the lower end so as toproject toward the side of the front surface 119 a. The engagingportions 141, 141 are square shaped in front view and are able to beinserted through the square holes 135, 135 formed on the mounting plate118, so that the vertical portion 142 a of T-shape of the engagingportion 142 is passed through the sliding hole 136 on the mounting plate118 and the lateral portion 142 b of T-shape can engage the frontsurface of the mounting plate 118.

[0093] With the mounting plate 118 and the supporting plate 119 thusconstructed, the engaging portions 142, 142 on the supporting plate 119are inserted through the square holes 135, 135 on the mounting plate 118so that both plates are brought into abutment with its back sides mated,and then the supporting plate 119 is slid upward with respect to themounting plate 118. As a consequence, since the vertical side portion142 a of the engaging portions 142, 142 on the supporting plate 119 isinserted into the sliding holes 136, 136 of the mounting plate 118, andthus the lateral side portion 142 b engages the mounting plate 118, themounting plate 118 and the supporting plate 119 are not moved withrespect to each other in the fore-and-aft direction. In this state, theheight of the supporting plate 119 with respect to the mounting plate118 is determined, and a mounting bolt 143 is inserted through the bolthole 139 and the bolt hole 132 a on the mounting plate 118 from the backside of the supporting plate 119, the nut is screwed on the front sideof the mounting plate 118 for fastening temporarily to support thesupporting plate 119 on the mounting plate 118.

[0094] Subsequently, the license plate 111 is mated to the back surfaceof the supporting plate 119 with the upper edge abutted against theinner side of the hooking strips 141, 141 on the supporting plate 119,the bolt holes 111 a, 111 a formed on both sides of the lower endportion are aligned with the bolt holes 133, 133 or the elongated holes134, 134 on the mounting plate 118. After that, the mounting bolt 144 isinserted therethrough from the back side of the license plate 111, andthe nut is screwed and tightened on the side of the front surface of themounting plate 118, so that the license plate 111 is secured on themounting plate 118.

[0095] When aligning the bolt holes 111 a, 111 a of the license plate111 and the bolt holes 133, 133 or the elongated holes 134, 134 on themounting plate 118, the supporting plate 119 is moved and adjusted inthe vertical direction with respect to the mounting plate 118 via theengagement between the slide holes 136, 136 and the engaging portions142, 142. When those holes are aligned, the mounting bolt 143, which wasinserted through the bolt hole 139 of the supporting plate 119 and thebolt hole 132 a of the mounting plate 118 and fastened temporarily, issecurely fastened to fixedly secure the supporting plate 119 to themounting plate 118.

[0096] The color tones of the mounting plate 118 and the supportingplate 119 are black by using a black material or applying a black coloron the suitable material. The mounting surface for the license plateconstructed by combining the mounting plate 118 and the supporting plate119 is determined to have dimensions in width and height sufficient foraccommodating the license plate 111 the specification of which differsdepending on the places of destination of the motorcycle. The backsurface of the license plate 111 is not irradiate directly by the taillight 145 in the brake lamp unit 18 mounted on the rear fender 13forwardly of the mounting plate 118 and the supporting plate 119.

[0097] Next, engine cooling by a radiator 10 and the heating device 201for a carburetor associated therewith will be described. As shown inFIG. 12, a transmission 40 of the engine 9 is provided with a coolingwater pump 202 on the side thereof, and an discharge port of the coolingwater pump 202 is connected to an engine cooling water intake port of aright cylinder section 36 in FIG. 12 of the engine 9 through the enginecooling water wiring 203. Engine cooling water flowing into the rightcylinder section 36 is diverged into two routes after passing a waterjacket, not shown, formed on a wall portion of the cylinder section 36,one of which reaches the engine cooling water discharge port formed onthe side of the cylinder section 36 opposite from the engine coolingwater intake port, and the other one of which reaches the engine coolingwater discharge port formed on the upper surface of the right cylinderhead section 37 upwardly thereof.

[0098] The engine cooling water discharge port of the right cylindersection 36 is connected to the engine cooling water intake port of theleft cylinder portion 36 via the engine cooling water communication pipe204. Engine cooling water flowing into the left cylinder section 36passes through the water jacket, not shown, formed on the wall portionof the same cylinder section 36, and then reaches the engine coolingwater discharge port formed on the upper surface of the left cylinderhead section 37 upwardly thereof. The engine cooling water dischargeport of the left cylinder head section 37 is then connected to an intakeport of a valve case of a thermostat valve 206 disposed downwardly of amain pipe 22 via an engine cooling water piping 205. On the other hand,the engine cooling water discharged port of the right cylinder headsection 37 is connected to the intake port of the valve case of thethermostat valve 206 via the engine cooling water piping 207.

[0099] The discharge port of the thermostat valve 206 is connected tothe upper intake port of the radiator 10 via the engine cooling waterpiping 208, and the lower discharge port of the radiator 10 is connectedto the suction opening of the cooling water pump 202 via the enginecooling water piping 209.

[0100] A carburetor heating piping 211 is bifurcated from the enginecooling water communication pipe 204 connecting the left and the rightcylinder sections 36, 36, and the extremity of the carburetor heatingpiping 211 is connected to the engine cooling water intake port formedon the carburetor 212. A carburetor heating piping 213 extends from theengine cooling water discharge port provided on the carburetor 212, andthis carburetor heating piping 213 located on the downstream side isconnected to the by-pass piping 214 for connecting the discharge port ofthe valve case of the thermostat valve 206 and the suction opening ofthe cooling water pump 202 via a junction 215.

[0101] The engine cooling water piping 203, the engine cooling watercommunication pipe 204, the engine cooling water piping 205, 207, 208,209 constitute a radiator piping that is a circulation route connectingthe engine 9 and the radiator 10. The inner diameters of the enginecooling water piping 208, 209 of this radiator piping are determined tobe larger than the inner diameter of the by-pass piping 214.

[0102] The thermostat valve 206 is opened and closed according to thetemperature of engine cooling water flowing therein, and for example,when it is “closed”, the engine cooling water piping 205, 207 is notbrought into communication with the engine cooling water piping 208, butis brought into communication only with the by-pass piping 214. When thethermostat valve 206 is “opened”, the engine cooling water piping 205,207 are brought into communication both with the engine cooling waterpiping 208 and the by-pass piping 214.

[0103] Though the cooling water pump 202 is actuated by starting theengine 9, the thermostat valve 206 is kept closed when the temperatureof engine cooling water does not reach the prescribed temperature. Thus,engine cooling water circulates the route from the cooling water pump202 through the engine cooling water piping 203, the left and rightcylinder sections 36, the engine cooling water piping 205, 207, thevalve case of the thermostat valve 206, and the by-pass piping 214 andflows back again to the cooling pump 202.

[0104] In this case, when suitably heated engine cooling water afterpassing the right cylinder section 36 passes through the engine coolingwater communication pipe 204, a part of it is diverged and led throughthe carburetor heating piping 211 to the carburetor 212 to heat up thecarburetor 212. Engine cooling water that was used for heating up passesthrough the carburetor heating piping 213 and the by-pass piping 214 andthen flows back again to the cooling water pump 202.

[0105] Subsequently, when the temperature of engine cooling waterincreases and exceeds a prescribed temperature, the thermostat valve 206opens. Accordingly, the route from the engine cooling piping 205, 207through the engine cooling water piping 208 to the radiator 10, and fromthere through the engine cooling water piping 209 back to the coolingwater pump 202 against is opened, and thus engine cooling watercirculates also into this route. In other words, engine cooling usingthe radiator 10 starts.

[0106] In this case, the flow rate of engine cooling water flowingthrough the by-pass piping 214 decreases due to piping resistance, andthus the flow rate of engine cooling water flowing in the route passingthrough the radiator 10 side (radiator piping system) increases.Therefore, the flow rate of engine cooling water flowing through thecarburetor 212 decreases consequently, and thus excessive heating of thecarburetor 212 is prevented.

[0107] The arrangement structure of the engine auxiliary equipment atthe substantially center of the vehicle body and the mounting structureof the ignition switch will now be described. As shown in FIG. 13, thebracket 45 mounted on the cross pipe 30 of the vehicle frame 2 isattached with an engine hanger 220 for supporting the engine 9 so as tocross over a pair of left and right pipe members 24, 27 of the vehiclebody frame. A center cover 221 is supported and mounted on the left andright center pipes 30 on the front side thereof via the engine hanger220 and the bracket 222 mounted on the center pipe 27 (See FIG. 17).

[0108] The engine hanger 220 has a function to support the engine 9 andthe center cover 221, as well as the ignition switch 223. This will bedescribed later in detail.

[0109] The center cover 221 is, as shown in FIG. 15 to FIG. 18, formedof resin having a plate shaped portion 225 formed into the substantiallysquare shape, and a upright portion 226 provided on the left and rightsides of the plate shaped portion 225 so as to extend rearwardly withrespect to the vehicle body when the center cover 221 is assembled tothe vehicle body frame. The left and right upright portions 226 are, asshown in FIG. 17, provided respectively with engaged holes 227 one overanother, by tightening suitable fixing means such as bolts with theseengaged holes 227 aligned with the engaging holes formed on the enginehanger 220 and on the bracket 222, whereby the center cover 221 issecured on the vehicle body frame 2.

[0110] The center cover 221 is not limited to resin, and may be metalsuch as aluminum alloy or the like.

[0111] As shown in FIG. 15, the center cover 221 is formed with two partmounting holes 228 on the upper part of the plate shaped portion 225 ata certain distance with each other, and an ignition coil 229 is mountedto these part mounting holes 228 via fixing means such as bolts. Asshown in FIG. 16 to FIG. 18, the lower part of the plate shaped portion225 is formed with tongue shaped engaging portions 230 extendingrearwardly with respect to the vehicle body at a certain distance witheach other in the vertical direction. With these tongue shaped engagingportion 230 inserted into and engaged with the engaging holes 232 formedon the sides of the fuel pump 231, the fuel pump 231 is mounted on thecenter cover 221 in the horizontal posture.

[0112]FIG. 13 shows a pipe 233 for feeding fuel from the fuel tank 14through the filter 234 to the fuel pump 231, and a pipe 235 for feedingfuel from the fuel pump 231 to the carburetor 212.

[0113] As shown in FIG. 19, the engine hanger 220 is formed into asubstantially diamond shape, and is formed with engaged holes 240 in thevertical direction at a prescribed distance in the vicinity of the endportion of the right side (rearwardly of the vehicle body when being,assembled to the vehicle body) in the same figure, and with a engaginghole 241 at the upper center thereof, and further with a engaging hole242 in the vicinity of the left end. The engaged holes 240 is a portionto be fixed via fixing means such as bolts in the state of being alignedwith the engaging holes of the bracket 45 mounted on the cross pipe 30of the vehicle body frame 2, the engaging hole 241 is a portion toengage the lower portion of the center cover 221 via suitable fixingmeans such as a bolt, and the engaging hole 242 is a portion to engagethe engine 9 via fixing means such as a bolt.

[0114] The engine hanger 220 is provided with all extended portion 244extending in the direction different from the direction of enginesuspension (upward in FIG. 19), and this extending portion 244 is formedwith two engaging holes 245 at a distance in the direction of thelength. The ignition switch 223 is mounted via a stay 247 to theseengaging holes 245 (See FIG. 13).

[0115] As shown in FIGS. 20(a) and (b), the stay 247 is formed withengaged holes 248 to be fixed on the engine hanger 220 at a distance inthe vertical direction in the vicinity of the right end (rearward whenbeing assembled), and with engaging holes 249 to be aligned with themounting hole for the ignition switch 229 at the position in thevicinity of the left end, and further with an reinforcing portion 250formed by bending the left edge inward so as to be upright whenassembling the vehicle body.

[0116] The engaged holes 248 of the stay 247 correspond to the engagingholes 245 of the engine hanger 220.

[0117] Subsequently, the storage structure for documents or tools willbe described. As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, a battery case 261 is storedrearwardly of the center cover 221 in the portion surrounded by thecenter pipes 27, the rear pipes 28, and main seat 15 of the vehicle bodyframe 2.

[0118] The battery case 261 comprises, as shown in FIGS. 21 to 24, adocument/tool storage section 263 for storing documents and tools inaddition to a battery storage section 262 for storing a battery formedintegrally therewith. In other words, in this battery case 261, theright side in FIG. 21 and FIG. 22 (rear side when assembling the vehiclebody) is used is the battery storage section 262 and the front sidethereof is used as the document/tool storage section 263.

[0119] As shown in FIGS. 24 (a)-(c), the battery case 261 includes acase body 264 on the lower side and a lid 265 to be fixed on the casebody 264 by a suitable fixing means so as to cover the open-top of thecase body 264. Further, the lid 265 is divided into a first lid 266 forcovering the open-top of the battery storage section 262 and a secondlid 267 for covering the document/tool storage section 263. The casebody 264, the first lid 266, and the second lid 267 are formed of resinby blow molding.

[0120] The case body 264 includes a first box-shaped portion 268 fordefining the battery storage section 262 and a second box-shaped portion269 for defining the document/tool storage section 263 formed on theleft side in FIG. 21, FIG. 22 of the box-shaped portion 268. A partition270 is provided between the first box-shaped portion 268 and the secondbox-shaped portion 269 for parting them. The case body 264 is secured onthe vehicle body frame 2 side by a support stay 271 attached on theoutside thereof (See FIG. 13).

[0121] As shown in FIG. 21 and FIGS. 24(a)-(c), the second box-shapedmember 269 for defining the document/tool storage section is providedwith an opening 273 for storing or taking out document S or tools Tlaterally thereof. The document/tool storing section 263 is divided intothe near side and the far side with respect to the opening 273, and thenear side of the storage section with respect to the opening is used asthe tool storage section 274 and the far side with respect to theopening is used as the documents storage section 275.

[0122] The second lid 267 is formed with an opening/closing lid 277integrally therewith for covering the opening 273 formed on the lowersidewall of the tool storage section 274 in FIG. 24. The opening/closinglid 277 has a thinner portion 278 at the position facing toward theouter wall corner of the tool storage section 263 when assembled intothe case body 264, so that it can be bent outward from the thinnerportion 273. The opening/closing lid 277 is provided with a lockingportion 280 that is engaged by the engaging portion 279 on the case body264, so that the opening 273 can be kept closed via the locking portion280. FIGS. 24(a)-(b) show a procedure to open the opening 273 and storedocuments S or tools T in the document/tool storage section 263.

[0123] The position of the opening 273 for storing or taking out thedocuments or the like is determined so that it is exposed toward theoutside from the opened portion between the center pipe 27 and the rearpipe 28 when the battery case 261 is assembled to the vehicle body frame2.

[0124] The rear fender 13 will now be described. As shown in FIG. 25,the rear fender 13 is formed of thin plate member such as iron plate bypress molding into the U-shape in cross section. The rear fender 13includes an arcuate surface portion 301 to be disposed so as to be laidalong the outer peripheral surface of the rear wheel 12 at a suitabledistance therefrom, and the left and right side surfaces 302 formed intoa substantially fan shaped extending respectively from the left andright edge of the arcuate surface portion 301 toward the centerline ofthe rear wheel.

[0125] The rear fender 13 is formed with engaging holes 303 as attachedportions at required locations on the arcuate surface portion 301 andthe left and right side surfaces 302, so that the rear fender 13 can beattached to the vehicle body frame 2 for example by passing a boltthrough the engaging hole 303 and tightening it with a nut. The engaginghole 303 is formed substantially at the longitudinally center of therear fender 13.

[0126] A wider portion 304 is formed at the rear end portion on the sidesurface 302 of the rear fender 13 being away from the position at whichthe engaging hole 303 is formed as the attaching portion. The widerportion 304 has a width Wa, which is wider than the width Wb of theremaining portion of the side surface 302. The wider portion 304 isformed with three rows of recesses 305 at suitable intervals so as toextend longitudinally of the vehicle body. The reinforced portion 306comprising these recesses 305 are formed at the inner position, which isthe opened edge side, of the side surface 302 of the rear fender withrespect to the lateral center thereof.

[0127] These recesses 305 are formed integrally when the rear fender 13is pressed.

[0128] The cylinder head sections 37 of the aforementioned respectivecylinder blocks 38 are connected to the mufflers respectively forreducing exhaust sound generated by the engine 9, as shown in FIG. 26and FIG. 27. The muffler 501 to be connected to the cylinder headsection 37 of the front cylinder block 38 includes an exhaust pipe unit502 to be connected to the cylinder head section 37 and a silencer unit503 having larger diameter than the exhaust pipe unit 502 for reducingsound. The muffler 501 extends downward from the end of the connectionbetween the exhaust pipe unit 502 and the cylinder block 38, then isbent at the position downwardly of the engine 9, and then extendshorizontally toward the rear along the lower portion of the crankcase 39and the transmission 40, and connected to the silencer unit 503 at theposition rearwardly of the transmission 40. The silencer unit 503 isdisposed on the right side of the vehicle body. The muffler 501 isformed separately from the exhaust pipe unit 502, and is provided withthree-dimensional catalyst, not shown, in a catalyst supporting portion504 that is to be assembled at the midsection of the exhaust pipe unit502, so that time period that is required until it is activated isreduced and thus catalytic performance at the startup timing isimproved.

[0129] The muffler 506 to be connected to the cylinder head section 37of the rear cylinder block 38 also comprises a exhaust pipe unit 507 tobe connected to the cylinder head section 37 and a silencer unit 508having larger diameter than the exhaust pipe unit 507 for reducingsound. The muffler 506 extends rearward from the end of connectionbetween the exhaust pipe unit 507 and the cylinder block 38, furtherextends rearward and obliquely downward along the upper side of thetransmission 40 and then horizontally toward the rear, and is connectedto the silencer. The silencer unit 508 is disposed on the right side ofthe vehicle body, which is the same side as the aforementioned silencerunit 503. The muffler 506 is also formed separately from the exhaustpipe unit 507 and is provided with three-dimensional catalyst, notshown, in a catalyst supporting portion 509 that is to be assembled tothe midsection of the exhaust pipe unit 507, so that time period that isrequired until it is activated is reduced and thus catalytic performanceat the startup timing is improved.

[0130] Both of the muffler 501 and the muffler 506 have the silencerunit 503 and the silencer unit 508 respectively at a distance in thehorizontal direction one over another. The rear end of the lowersilencer unit 503 extends horizontally to the position in the vicinityof the axis of the rear wheel 12, and the upper silencer unit 508extends horizontally to the position further rearward with respect tothe silencer unit 503.

[0131] The silencer unit 503 of the lower muffler 501 is, as shown inFIG. 27, disposed vertically below the right fork portion 46 of the rearswing arm unit 11. In other words, the silencer unit 503 is shifteddownwardly of the right fork portion 46 of the rear swing arm unit 11 inthe vertical direction, and a part of it coincides the right forkportion 46 of the rear swing arm unit 11 in the lateral direction.

[0132] The silencer unit 508 of the upper muffler 506 is disposedoutside with respect to the lower silencer unit 503 in the lateraldirection of the vehicle body, and arranged on the right outside of thefork portion 46 of the rear swing arm unit 11. In other words, thesilencer unit 508 coincides partially with the right fork portion 46 ofthe rear swing arm unit 11 in the vertical direction, and is shiftedtoward outside with respect to the right fork portion 46 of the rearswing arm unit 11 in the lateral direction

[0133] The lower silencer unit 503 and the upper silencer unit 508 arefixedly connected with each other by securing the linking members 510which are fixed to them respectively by fastening with bolt.

[0134] The upper silencer unit 508 is provided with a stopper member 511fixed on the side of the rear swing arm unit 11 thereof. When the upperand lower mufflers 501, 506 are deformed in the later direction towardthe vehicle body when being toppled, the stopper member 511 abutsagainst the rear swing arm unit 11 to prevent the upper muffler 506 frombeing deformed further in the lateral direction toward the vehicle body,and thus to prevent the lower muffler 501 connected to the upper muffler506 from being deformed further in the lateral direction toward thevehicle body, thereby preventing the silencer unit 503 of the lowermuffler 501 from being brought into touch with a disk 512 of a diskbrake of the rear wheel 12.

[0135] The right down pipe 33 of the aforementioned vehicle frame 2 isprovided with a brake input device 520 shown in FIG. 28 and FIG. 29 atthe lower front end thereof.

[0136] The brake input device 520 comprises a step bracket 521 to befixed to the down pipe 33 with a bolt, and an integral stay 519 to befixed to the step bracket 521 by welding. The integral stay 519comprises a master cylinder stay portion 522 extending upward, and abrake pivot holder portion 523.

[0137] The brake input device 520 comprises a brake pivot shaft(supporting shaft) 524 that is rotatably supported by the brake pivotholder portion 523 at both ends in a state of being laid along the samein the lateral direction, a brake pedal 525 to be fixed to one end ofthe brake pivot shaft 524 on the right side of the vehicle body, and abrake arm (operating member) 526 to be pivotally connected to the otherend of the brake pivot shaft 524 on the side of the vehicle body. Withsuch an arrangement, the brake pedal 525 is disposed outside the vehiclebody on the right side at the position relatively far from the vehiclebody.

[0138] In this case, the brake pedal 525 comprises a pedal pad unit 550to which a foot force from the driver is introduced, a pedal lever unit551 rotatably supported by the vehicle body side at the proximal endthereof and extending obliquely toward the upper front from the proximalend for pivotally supporting the pedal pad unit 550 at the distal endthereof, and a pin 552 for supporting the pedal pad unit 550 on thepedal lever unit 551.

[0139] The brake input device 520 comprises a return spring 527 to beinterposed between the brake arm 526 and the integral stay 519, a mastercylinder (operating portion) 529 to be mounted at the back side of themaster cylinder stay portion 522 and connected to the brake arm 526 atthe input portion 528 thereof, and a reservoir tank 530 attached to theupper end of the master cylinder stay portion 522 for feeding anddischarging brake fluid with respect to the m aster cylinder 529. Themaster cylinder 529 in this case is disposed inside the outer end of thedown pipe 33 of the vehicle body frame 2 in the lateral direction (theinside the vehicle body), though it is not shown in the figure.

[0140] On the other hand, the step bracket 521 supports the step plate(step device) 531 for placing the driver's foot in the state of beingdisposed in the vicinity of the brake pedal 525. The step bracket 521 isalso provided on the left side of the vehicle body where the brake inputdevice 520 is not provided for supporting the step plate 531 for placingthe driver's foot by the step bracket 521.

[0141] In the brake input device 520 described above, when the driverpresses the brake pedal 525, the brake pedal 525 is rotated integrallywith the brake pivot shaft 524 connected to one end thereof, and thusthe brake arm 526 connected to the other end of the brake pivot shaft524 away from the brake pedal 525 is rotated integrally. As a result,the brake arm 526 presses the input portion 528 of the master cylinder529 upward and allows the master cylinder 529 to generate a brakingfluid pressure.

[0142] The brake pedal 525 described above comprises, as shown in FIG.28 to FIG. 32, a pedal pad unit 550 to which a foot force from thedriver is introduced, a pedal lever unit 551 rotatably supported by thevehicle body side at the proximal end thereof and extending obliquelytoward the upper front from the proximal end for pivotally supportingthe pedal pad unit 550 at the distal end thereof, and a pin 552 forsupporting the pedal pad unit 550 on the pedal lever unit 551, a spring553 for allowing the pin 552 to be inserted inward and urging the pedalpad unit 550 to one side of a pivotal movement, and a washer 554 forpreventing the pin 552 from coming off.

[0143] The pedal lever unit 551 comprises an extending portion 556 thatis rotatably supported by the vehicle body side as a result that theproximal end thereof is fixed to the end of the laterally oriented brakepivot shaft 524, which is the outer side with respect to the vehiclebody. The extending portion 556 has a plate shape and connected to thebrake pivot shaft 524 at the proximal end thereof with the direction ofthickness oriented in the lateral direction in a state of extendingobliquely from the proximal end toward the upper front.

[0144] The pedal lever unit 551 comprises a supporting member 557provided at the distal end on the extended side of the extending portion556 in the direction intersecting the extending portion 556 forpivotally supporting the pedal pad unit 550. The supporting member 557has a plate shape and extends from the distal end of the extendingportion 556 rightward and then projects upward from the distal endthereof with the direction of thickness oriented in the longitudinaldirection of the extending portion 556. The extending portion 556 andthe supporting member 557 are formed integrally, and more specifically,they are formed by bending a plate shaped member.

[0145] The supporting member 557 is formed with a hole 559 extendingthrough the thickness thereof at the projected portion 558 projectedupward from the distal end thereof.

[0146] The pedal pad unit 550 includes a pair of flat depressing surfaceforming portions 561 to be covered by covers 560, for example, of rubberon the front faces on which the driver depresses, a pair of mountingportions 562 extending from the depressing surface forming portion 561in the direction opposite from the cover 560 for being pivotally mountedat the supporting member 557 in the state of being disposed on bothsides of the supporting member 557 of the pedal lever unit 551, and aconnecting portion 563 for connecting a pair of mounting portions 562with each other on the opposite side thereof from the depressing surfaceforming portion 561.

[0147] A pair of depressing surface forming portions 561 are rectangularin shape, and extend in the opposite directions on the same plane fromthe opposite edges of the respective mounting portions 562 from theconnecting portion 563. The pair of depressing surface forming portions561 are oriented so that the elongated sides are laid along theextending direction.

[0148] The pair of mounting portions 562 has inclined portions 564 suchthat the extending amount from the depressing surface forming portion561 decreases along the length of the depressing surface forming portion561 toward one end thereof, and the connecting portion 563 is formedonly on the inclined portion 564. A hole 565 passing through both of themounting portions 562 at the portion where the connecting portion 563 isnot formed.

[0149] The pair of depressing surface forming portions 561 and the pairof mounting portions 562 and a connecting portion 563 are formedintegrally, and more specifically, they are formed by bending a plateshaped member.

[0150] Then, the pedal pad unit 550 is supported by the pedal lever unit551 by inserting the pin 552 into the hole 565 on the mounting portion562 and the hole 559 on the supporting member 557, providing a spring553 so as to dispose the pin 552 inside, and engaging a washer 554 withthe pin 552 in a state in which the pair of mounting portions 562 of thepedal pad unit 550 are disposed on both sides of the supporting member557 of the pedal lever unit 551.

[0151] In this case, one of the margins of pivotal motion of the pedalpad unit 550 with respect to the pedal lever unit 551 is determined byabutment of the connecting portion 563 of the pedal pad unit 550 againstthe abutting portion 566 of the supporting member 557 of the pedal leverunit 551 opposite from the extending portion 556, and in addition to it,the pedal pad unit 550 is urged into the direction to bring theconnecting portion 563 into abutment against the abutting portion 566 byan urging force of the spring 553. In other words, the pedal pad unit550 is in the normal state when it is in the marginal position of thepivotal motion, and in this normal state, the pedal pad unit 550 is laidalong the lateral direction of the vehicle body. When a certain force isexerted on the pedal pad unit 550 from underneath thereof, the pedal padunit 550 rotates In such a manner that the right end is moved upward.

[0152] As described above, the step plate (step device) 531 is forplacing the driver's foot. As shown in FIG. 33 and FIG. 34, the stepplate 531 includes a platform 580 on which the driver places his/herfoot, and a back sensor 581 that projects downward from the platform 580and comes in touch wit ground when the vehicle body is inclined.

[0153] The platform 580 is substantially flat plate shape with curvedcorners at both ends of one of the edges in parallel with the lengththereof and a mounting portion 582 on the other edge in parallel withthe length thereof for being rotatably supported by the step bracket521. In other words, as shown in FIG. 28, the step bracket 521 is formedwith a pair of supporting portions 583 disposed forward and backward insubstantially vertically, so that the mounting portion 582 of the stepplate 531 is rotatably mounted on supporting portions 583 thereof. Thestep plate 531 in the state of being mounted on the step bracket 521 isdisposed in such a manner that the longitudinal side lies longitudinallyof the vehicle body, and projects from the vehicle body toward laterallyoutside thereof, and from this state, it is capable of pivotal movementin the direction in which the projected extremity is positioned upward.

[0154] The platform 580 is formed with bank sensors 581 on the lowerside and the opposite side from the mounting portion 582 at the forwardand backward positions thereof along the longitudinal direction of thevehicle body so as to project downward from the platform 580respectively. The respective bank sensors 581 are elongated in thedirection longitudinally of the vehicle body, slightly curved along thecorners of the platform 580, and are mirror symmetry with respect toeach other. The bank sensor 581 has a substantially flat ground plane584 oil the lower face, which comes in touch with ground when thevehicle body is inclined.

[0155] In such step plate 531, the platform 580 and the bank sensors 581located at two positions are formed integrally with each other. In otherwords, the step plate 531 is a die cast article of aluminum alloy forexample, and thus the platform 580 and the bank sensors 581 at the twolocations are formed integrally at the time of die casting.

[0156] The constructions of the supporting portion 583 of the left andthe right step brackets 521 in the vehicle body are the same, and thusthe left and the right step brackets 521 have the step plates 531 of thesame configuration mounted thereon.

[0157] As regards the pillion seat 16 to be disposed further backwardlyof the main seat 15 being placed on the aforementioned rear fender 13 onthe rear side thereof, the seat mounting structure in which the frontportion of the pillion seat 16 is mounted on the rear fender 13 is, asshown in FIG. 35 and FIG. 36, such that a mounting stay 600 is mountedon the rear fender 13 so that the mounting stay 600 supports the leftand right sides of the pillion seat 16.

[0158] The main seat 15 has a configuration having a pointed projection601 in V-shape in plan view and in side view at the rear thereof(so-called gun fighter type), and the front portion is placed on thevehicle body frame 2 and the rear portion is placed on the rear fender13. In this state, the main seat 15 is bolted to the vehicle body frame2 in the vicinity of the fuel tank 14 on the front side and bolted tothe stay or the like that is attached on the vehicle body frame 2 on therear side, though it is not shown in the figure.

[0159] The mounting stay 600 for mounting the pillion seat 16 includes amidsection 602 of V-shape in plan view so as to fit the configuration ofthe projection 601 of the main seat 15 in plain view, and includes alsosupporting portions 603 that curve in the same direction respectivelyfrom both ends of the midsection 602. The mounting stay 600 is bolted onthe rear fender 13 at the midsection 602 thereof in a state in which themidsection 602 is fitted on the outer side of the projection 601 of themain seat 15, that is, in a state in which the supporting portion 603 isdisposed forwardly of the midsection 602. In this case, the bothsupporting portions 603 of the mounting stay 600 project upward in thevertical direction from the rear fender 13 with its thickness orientedin the lateral direction of the vehicle body, and simultaneouslycoincide with the projection 601 of the main seat 15 in the for-and-aftdirection.

[0160] The pillion seat 16 is formed with a recess 604 on the frontportion thereof so as to be capable of covering the pointed projection601 of the main seat 15 fixed on the rear fender 13, and is providedwith a rear mounting stay 605 on the lower surface of the rear portionthereof. The pillion seat 16 further comprises mounting portions 607 onthe left and right sides of the front portion thereof. While the pillionseat 16 is attached on the left and right supporting portions 603 of themounting stay 600 via the left and right of the mounting portion 607respectively with screws in the state of being placed on the rear fender13 with the projection 601 of the main seat 15 fitted into the recess604, the rear portion thereof is attached on the rear fender 13 by meansof the rear mounting stay 605. When the left and right mounting portions607 of the pillion seat 16 are attached to the left and right supportingportions 603 of the mounting stay 600, the both ends of the seat belt608 that is to be tighten around the surface of the pillion seat 16 arealso fixed to the supporting portions 603 together. In other words, themounting stay 600 also supports the seat belt 608. Though the frontportion of the pillion seat 16 formed with a recess 604 is thinner dueto formation of recess 604, since it is overlaid on the projection 601of the main seat 15, the substantial thickness is the sum of thesethicknesses.

[0161] As shown in FIG. 37, the aforementioned fuel tank 14 is attachedwith a supporting member 620 on the upper side, and a meter cover 621formed with a plated layer on the surface thereof is attached via thesupporting member 620 or the like. The meter cover 621 is, as shown inFIG. 38, provided with openings 622, 623 aligned in the longitudinaldirection. The rear opening 623 is circular and the front opening 622 isfan shape but a small fan shape is removed from the center side. Theseopenings 622, 623 are for accommodating meters (in FIG. 37, only a meter625 that is to be disposed in the front opening 622 is shown).

[0162] The front opening 622 of the meter cover 621 is formed along arear edge 626 with a chamfered portion 627 being linear in cross section(taken along the vertical plane along the longitudinal direction) thatis inclined downward toward the front. In addition, the height of therear edge portion 629 of the upper surface 628 of the meter 625 to bedisposed in this opening 622 is determined not to be higher than thelower end 630 of the chamfered portion 627.

[0163] The front edge 633 of the opening 622 is disposed on the forwardextension of the upper surface 632 continuing into the rear portion ofthe chamfered portion 627 of the meter cover 621. Further, the frontside of the edge 634 of the upper surface 628 of the meter 625 issubstantially flush with the front edge 633 of the opening 622.

[0164] As a result of such arrangement, the angle of the upper surface628 of the meter 625 with respect to the chamfered portion 627 of themeter cover 621 is different from that with respect to the upper surface632 continuing into the rear portion of the chamfered portion 627. Morespecifically, the upper surface 632 continuing into the rear portion ofthe chamfered portion 627 is inclined at a prescribed angle so that thefront side comes higher, the chamfer portion 627 is inclined at aprescribed angle so that the front side comes lower, and the uppersurface 628 of the meter 625 is inclined at a prescribed angle largerthan the upper surface 632 continuing into the rear portion of thechamfered portion 627 so that the front side comes higher.

[0165] As shown in FIG. 39-41, the gusset 32 to be welded to the leadpipe 21 of the vehicle body frame 2 supporting the front fork 3 isprovided on one side with a mounting portion 640 in such a shape that acylinder is cut along the line parallel with the axis thereof, and arear fitting portion 641 in a square cylindrical shape extending in theopposite direction from the mounting portion 640, and a pair ofcylindrical lower fitting portions 642 extending from between themounting portion 640 and the fitting portion 641 so as to be mirrorsymmetrical with respect to each other. The gusset 32 is an integrallymolded article formed of a white malleable cast iron that can beconfigured relatively freely by the use of a core cylinder, and that canbe provided with a sufficient welding strength by decarburization.

[0166] The gusset 32 is secured to the head pipe 21 by joining with thehead pipe 21 at its mounting portion 640, and welding along the wholeperiphery of the mounting portion 640. The gusset 32 is also secured tothe sub pipe 34 by fitting the square cylindrical sub pipe 34 on theinner side of the square cylindrical rear fitting portion 641 and bywelding the same along the whole periphery thereof. Further, the bothdown pipes 33 are fixed by fitting the cylindrical down pipes 33respectively into the cylindrical lower fitting portions 642 of thegusset 32 and welding along the entire periphery thereof. The sub pipe34 and the down pipe 33 can be welded without alignment by forming thegusset 32 of white malleable cast iron and by inserting the sub pipe 34and the down pipe 33 therein and joining them by welding as describedabove. In addition, while the gusset 32 is interposed between the fueltank 14 and the front fork 3 and thus is disposed at the position whichis highly visible in appearance, the sub pipe 34 and the down pipe 33are integrally configured and thus the appearance is also improved.

[0167] The pair of left and right down pipes 33 extending from the headpipe 21 of the vehicle body frame 2 supporting the front fork 3 andbeing bifurcated via the gusset 32 each comprises a downward extension650 extending downward from the head pipe 21, a bent portion 651 bentfrom the lower portion of the downward extension 650 rearward, and arearward extension 652 extending rearward from the lower portion of thebent portion 651, and the radiator 10 is supported between the pair ofleft and right downward extensions 650 in the stored state.

[0168] In other words, the radiator 10 has a substantially rectangularshape and is supported by the downward extension 650 in such a mannerthat the elongated side is laid along the downward extension 650 of thedown pipe 33, and the whole length coincides longitudinally with thedownward extension 650.

[0169] A fan 653 is provided on the rear side of the radiator 10, or onthe side of the engine 9, and a separate cover 654 having an opening 654a is attached on the front side of the radiator 10. An intake port 657to which a cooling water pipe 656 for flowing cooling water is to beconnected is provided at the lateral center of the upper surface 655 ofthe radiator 10 so as to project upward, and a discharge port 660 towhich a cooling water pipe 659 for flowing cooling water is connected isprovided at the lateral one side of the lower surface 658 of theradiator 10 so as to project downwardly. In this case, cooling waterbefore cooling is introduced from the side of the engine 9 via thecooling water pipe 656 to the inlet port 657, and form the dischargeport 660, cooling water after cooling is discharged via the coolingwater pipe 659 toward the side of the engine 9.

[0170] The upper surface 655 on the upper part of the radiator 10 thatfaces upward is provided with a pair of left and right upper partsupporting portions 622 so as to project upward. On the other hand, theupper side of the radiator 10 is provided with the upper part mountingmember 663 that is to be supported by the downward extensions 650 so asto connect the left and right downward extensions 650 with each other.The pair of left and right upper part supporting portions 662 of theradiator 10 is secured together by bolt to the upper part mountingmember 663. Accordingly, the radiator 10 is secured to the downwardextensions 650 at the upper part thereof.

[0171] The lower surface 658 of lower part of the radiator 10 that facesdownward is formed with a lower part supporting portion 665 at onelateral side of the vehicle body, or more specifically, on the rightside so as to project downward, and the lower part supporting portion665 is supported by the engine hanger (supporting member) 664 forsupporting the engine 9 on the bracket 42 of the down pipe 33.

[0172] In other words, the engine hanger 664 for supporting the engine 9on the down pipe 33 is configured as shown in FIG. 42. The engine hanger664 is provided with a mounting hole 667 to be bolted on the upper andlower fixing portions 666 of the bracket 42 fixed on the rear side ofthe downward extension 650 (shown in FIG. 40) by welding, a main plateportion 669 disposed rearwardly of the mounting hole 667 in the state ofbeing fixed on the bracket 42 of the down pipe 33 via these mountingholes 667. The engine hanger 664 is also joined with a supporting hole668 to be bolted to the front end portion of the crankcase 39 of theengine 9, and a supporting plate portion 670 extending from the mainplate portion 669 forwardly for supporting the radiator 10.

[0173] The supporting plate portion 670 is formed with a supporting hole672 on the front end side thereof. The supporting hole 672 is attachedwith a grommet 673, and the lower part supporting portion 665 of theradiator 10 is inserted into the fitting hole 674 inside of the grommet673. Accordingly, the lower portion of the radiator 10 is supported bythe downward extension 650.

[0174] As described above, radiator 10 is in the supported state inwhich the radiator 10 is supported between the left and right downwardextensions 650 with the elongated side is laid along the downwardextension 650 and the whole length thereof coincides with the downwardextension 650 in the fore-and-aft direction in a state in which both ofthe upper part supporting portions 662 is bolted on the upper partmounting member 663 supported on the both of the downward extensions650, and the lower part supporting portion 665 is inserted into thegrommet 673 of the engine hanger 664 mounted on the down pipe 33 on theright side of the vehicle body. As such, the radiator 10 is supported bythe down pipe 33 solely by means of the upper part supporting portion662 and the lower part supporting portion 665.

[0175] Therefore, in the supported state as described above, no separatesupporting member is provided between the left and right side surface675 of the radiator 10 and both of the downward extensions 650 of thedown pipe 33. In other word, the main plate portion 669 of the enginehanger 664 is positioned rearwardly of the downward extension 650 as ahole in at state of being bolted on the fixing member 666 of the downpipe 33. Accordingly, the engine hanger 664 will never be positionedbetween the radiator 10 and the downward extension 650.

[0176] The aforementioned front winker (light emitting device) 5 and therear winker (light emitting device) 117 may be constructed as follows.

[0177] As shown in FIG. 43 to FIG. 45, the front winker (light emittingdevice) 5 and the rear winker (light emitting device) 17 each include alens 692 formed of transparent synthetic resin including a translucentsubstantially disk shaped light emitting front section 690 and atranslucent substantially cylindrical light emitting side surfacesection 691, a light emitting device body 694 including anon-transparent housing 693 on which the lens 692 is attached on theside of the light emitting side surface section 691 opposite from thelight emitting front section 690 and being provided with a lightemitting member, not shown, such as a bulb or the like inside thereof,and a separate non-transparent cover 695 for covering only a part of thelight emitting side surface section 691 of the lens 692 on the lightemitting device body 694. The translucent light emitting front section690 and the light emitting side surface section 691 emits a light towardoutside by emission of light by the light emitting member providedinside thereof. The term “front ” of the light emitting front section690 means the main light emitting direction. Thus, it is forward of thevehicle body in the case of the front winker 5, and it is rearward ofthe vehicle body, in the case of the rear winker 17.

[0178] The cover 695 has an inclined front edge 696 so that the extentof exposure of the light emitting side surface section 691 in side viewis larger on the lower side. In other words, it is inclined in such amanner that the upper side of the light emitting side surface section691 is covered by a larger area. The cover 695 is fixed to the housing693 with the lens 692. For example, a plated layer in the same color isformed on the surface of the cover 695 and on the surface of the housing693.

[0179] As shown in FIG. 46, the cover 695 may be formed so that thefront edge 696 is configured into the shape of a circular arc in sideview that the extent of exposure in side view of the light emitting sidesurface section 691 of the lens 692 is largest at the vertical center.

[0180] Since the step plate 531 of this embodiment comprises a platform580 on which the driver's foot is placed, and a bank sensor 581 thatcomes in touch with the ground when the vehicle body is inclined formedintegrally therewith, these members can be formed of cast metal ofaluminum alloy or the like, and the configuration of the bank sensor 581can easily be determined to be the configuration that can reduce soundand vibrations generated when it comes in touch with ground. In otherwords, as described above, by forming the bank sensor 581 in aconfiguration elongated in the longitudinal direction of the vehiclebody, the bank sensor 581 does not generate a large resistance to travelwhen touching the ground, and it touches the ground with a planar groundplane 584.

[0181] Therefore, sound and vibrations generated when the step plate 531touches the ground can be reliably reduced.

[0182] Since the platform 580 and the bank sensor 581 are formedintegrally, the entire thickness of the step plate 531 can be reducedand the position of the step plate 531 can be lowered, which realizesuperior design.

[0183] In addition, the bank sensor 581 is disposed both at the frontside and the rear side of the platform 580 in the longitudinal directionof the vehicle body, when one of the bank sensors 581 on the side thatcomes in touch with the ground is worn away by being brought into touchwith the ground, the other bank sensor 581 that is not worn can bedisposed on the side that comes in touch with the ground by exchangingthe step plates 531 between the left side and the right side.

[0184] Therefore, frequency of replacement of the bank sensor 581 with anew one caused by wear of the bank sensor 581 may be reduced. Thus,maintenance costs may be minimized.

[0185] As is described in detail above, since the step device accordingto the first aspect of the present invention comprises a platform forplacing the driver's foot thereon, and a bank sensor that comes in touchwith the ground when the vehicle body is inclined formed integrallytherewith, these members can be formed of cast metal or the like.Further, the configuration of the bank sensor can easily be determinedto be the configuration that can reduce sound and vibrations generatedwhen the step plate touches with ground.

[0186] Therefore, sound and vibrations generated when the step platetouches the ground can be reduced.

[0187] According second aspect of the present invention, since the banksensor is elongated in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body,it does not generate a large resistance to travel when it touches theground, and it can come in touch with the ground linearly or planarly.

[0188] Therefore, sound and vibrations generated when the step platetouches the ground can be reliably reduced.

[0189] According to the third aspect of the present invention, since thebank sensors are disposed both at the front side and rear side of theplatform in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle body, when one ofthe bank sensors on the side that comes in touch with the ground is wornaway by being brought into touch with the ground, the other bank sensorthat is not worn can be disposed on the side that comes in touch withthe ground by exchanging the bank sensors between the left side and theright side.

[0190] Therefore, frequency of replacement of the bank sensor with a newone caused by wearing of the bank sensor may be reduced. Thus, anincrease in maintenance cost may be prevented.

[0191] The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that thesame may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regardedas a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all suchmodifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intendedto be included within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A step device mounted on a vehicle body forplacing a driver's foot thereon, comprising: a platform for placing thedriver's foot; and a bank sensor that projects from the platform andcomes in touch with the ground when the vehicle body is inclined,wherein the platform and the bank sensor are integrally formed.
 2. Thestep device according to claim 1, wherein the bank sensor is elongatedin a longitudinal direction of the vehicle body.
 3. The step deviceaccording to claim 2, wherein the bank sensors are disposed both at afront side and a rear side of the platform in the longitudinal directionof the vehicle body.
 4. The step device according to claim 1, whereinthe platform has a substantially flat plate shape with curved corners atboth ends of one edge thereof in parallel with the length, and includesa mounting portion on an opposite edge thereof in parallel with thelength, the mounting portion rotatably supporting the step device on astep bracket.
 5. The step device according to claim 4, wherein the stepdevice projects laterally and outwardly from the vehicle body, the stepdevice being capable of being pivoted in an upward direction withrespect to the step bracket.
 6. The step device according to claim 3,wherein each of the bank sensors is formed to be symmetrical with theother bank sensor.
 7. The step device according to claim 3, wherein eachof the bank sensors has a substantially flat ground plane which comes intouch with ground when the vehicle body is inclined.
 8. The step deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the step device is a die cast article ofaluminum alloy, and the platform and the bank sensors are formedintegrally at a time of die casting.
 9. A step device mounted on avehicle body for placing a driver's foot thereon, comprising: a platformfor placing the driver's foot; and a bank sensor that projects from theplatform and comes in touch with the ground when the vehicle body isinclined, wherein the platform and the bank sensor are integrallyformed, and wherein the platform is disposed adjacent to a brake pedal.10. The step device according to claim 9, wherein the bank sensor iselongated in a longitude direction of the vehicle body.
 11. The stepdevice according to claim 10, wherein the bank sensors are disposed bothat a front side and a rear side of the platform in the longitudinaldirection of the vehicle body.
 12. The step device according to claim 9,wherein the platform has a substantially flat plate shape with curvedcorners at both ends of one edge thereof in parallel with the length,and includes a mounting portion on an opposite edge thereof in parallelwith the length, the mounting portion rotatably supporting the stepdevice on a step bracket.
 13. The step device according to claim 12,wherein the step device projects laterally and outwardly from thevehicle body, the step device being capable of being pivoted in ailupward direction with respect to the step bracket.
 14. The step deviceaccording to claim 11, wherein each of the bank sensors is formed to besymmetrical with the other bank sensor.
 15. The step device according toclaim 11, wherein each of the bank sensors has a substantially flatground plane which comes in touch with ground when the vehicle body isinclined.
 16. The step device according to claim 9, wherein the stepdevice is a die cast article of aluminum alloy, and the platform and thebank sensors are formed integrally at a time of die casting.